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How long does it take to recover after tonsillectomy?
Tonsillectomy recovery time is unique for each patient. The recovery timeline for children is much shorter than for adults, with seemingly less pain. My own eight year old son was back to his old self in less than a week after his tonsils taken out. This may have fanned the flames of my unreasonable expectations of my own recovery time as an adult. His was fairly typical of a child his age. Children’s bodies heal faster than adults’ do.
Tonsillectomy Recovery Time
What to expect after tonsil surgery
The timeline for recovery for an adult is a different story. Age matters. In fact, it appears that the older an adult is at the time of their tonsillectomy, the longer the recovery is, in general. Based on my own adult tonsillectomy recovery, and the stories of thousands of my readers, I’d put the average adult tonsillectomy recovery time at approximately 10.43 days. Yes, I’m that good!
Humor aside, ten days seems to be pretty typical. I added the .43 because so many people, myself included, thought they had it licked and went back to work around day ten, only to find they weren’t quite ready. As scabs slough off in second week of recovery, many adults experience a bit of a pain relapse, just as they thought they were almost recovered. This is a really tough period for many. They’ve spent almost two weeks with minimal sleep, minimal nourishment, minimal activity, and lots of pain medicine. It can be downright depressing for adults recovering in this second week.
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I do hear from many adults whose recovery times are closer to a week – perhaps due to my good advice, perhaps due to genetics. It’s hard to say why some adults’ recovery timelines are shorter, and their experiences less traumatic. There are also cases that drag out further. If you’re one of a small minority that requires re-cauterization for bleeding, or don’t take the proper precautions, (many of these are outlined here and in my book), your tonsillectomy recovery time may be as much as three or four weeks. I want to make an important point here- one that I cannot overemphasis: Stay hydrated! Keep drinking fluids! Dehydration is the worst enemy of the tonsillectomy patient.
My advice: ask your employer, your family, your friends, and the rest of the world to give you two weeks for your adult tonsillectomy. You may surprise them, hopefully for the better.
Recovery is unique to each individual- sure. We know that recovery time for adults is longer, and maybe harder, than for children. I remember my own son bouncing back in less than a week! My own experience taught me that ten days off from a job that required lots of talking was a bit light. I generally advise two weeks. As I’ve said, most employers will let you come back early. That’s easier than asking for more time after the fact. I’ve read the accounts of thousands of tonsillectomy patients- most of them adults. I’ve learned that the time required varies. I wonder though, how many tonsillectomy patients never really post about their experience.
Are you one of those quiet ones lying in the weeds? I’d like to get a better feel for the average adult tonsillectomy recovery time. Please take a moment and share your own experience in recovering from tonsillectomy surgery. You can help us all!I’ve put together a collection of items that I think would be helpful, if not essential, to making tonsillectomy recovery a little more pleasant. Check out the Tonsillectomy General Store.
-Greg Tooke My short bio
Well now I’m scared to death!!! I am having my tonsils out this coming Tuesday. My left tonsil is 4 times the size of my right one and very hard, antibiotics didn’t do anything. The doctor was very honest and told me he is very suspicious that it’s tonsil cancer, then adds most all head cancers start as tonsil cancer. Well thanks doc. So yea I’ve been freaking out scared for a few days. I have barely slept. Of course the thought of cancer scares me to death I’m only 42 and I have a 13 year old daughter. But I am also so scared of the pain. I am a HUGE baby when it comes to pain. So I am just trying to stay calm not scare my little girl. My other doc upped my anxiety meds cause I was having worse panic attacks.
I really hope I can be strong like some of y’all. And I truly hope it’s not cancer either.
Do you smoke? Very unlikely to be tonsil cancer if you don’t smoke. If you do smoke. Quit before surgery. No smoking after surgery!!!
19 years old female
My surgery took place on nov 10 2017. I had super enlarged tonsils with abscesses. I delt with this issue for a couple months (chronic tonsilitis since AUGUST). I was told it was MANDITORY for these demons to come out. It is now nov 14 2017 and the pain i deal with to eat or drink is HORRIBLE especially when you first wake up it feels like you just licked sand or you were in the dessert for 3 days with no water. Waking up is really rough to even want to stay hydrated (YES i know i half to and yes after allllll day staying hydrated with cool liquids does give some relief) on the side note i also wake up a couple times through the night to sip on some water to try and help this. Doesnt help?. Eating….. well ive been on a diet of unsweetened applesauce and jello. Great times. I also was a smoker of 6 years so not being able to smoke is also crap. BUT with all this going on i wouldn’t dare take the chances of sparking one up 1. You could make your healing process even longer or 2.you start bleeding after smoking and go back to the hospital. NO THANK YOU. But on that note to anyone who has had an adult tonsillectomy and you did good with very little complications you are one BLESSED individual. All in all to anybody who is about to have this surgery take your meds on time, relax, stay hydrated, and hope for the best.
Good luck!
I’m am 18 year old male.
I had undertaking a tonsillectomy on Thursday passed. Therefore I am on day 5 of the recovery period. I am curious as to how much longer I am going to have to undergo this excruciating pain. It is getting to the stage where it is unbearable as I cannot even drink water at this stage.
Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Hi Matthew. For many, 8 or 9 days of this is common. You’re young. Persons you’ll fare better. I know it hurts but you MUST drink- even if you have to drink room temp. Dehydration is NOT your friend. Hang in there!
Been a while, how are you Matt?
I’m a 23 y/o female and had my tonsillectomy 25 October. I’m on day 6 or recovery and am feeling better as the day goes on. I was awake at 3am this morning in agony wanting to take more pain relief, but had only just taken my last dose at 1am! Hoping now I’m feeling more myself, I will only begin to feel better as days 2-5 were hell!
I’m 32 and on day 7 first two days were a breeze. I thought this isn’t so bad. I actually ate a lot of apple sauce, jello, popsicles, etc. By day 3-5 I wanted Olive Garden soup, Panda Express noodles and a nurse told me a lot of people like Little Ceasers cheese pizza (I love it but was skeptical, of course I had it haha) it was really good! Don’t eat the crust of course. I’m glad I’m taking off two weeks at work as you can tell I’m up at 2-3am is when I need to take pills and my recovery isn’t fully over. Staying hydrated thus far has been key. Overall I’ve been able to sleep just fine and my pain is minimal but I take pain better than most. Hardest part like some have said is barley opening the mouth, not talking with a normal voice (slow talking) spitting thick spit, bad breath, nauseous from pain meds after day 2+. I like most try to get up and act as normal as a day as I can, to get my body to not be in sick/sluggish mode! Shower, get dressed the relax read, etc. Best of luck to everyone I knew it wouldn’t be easy but thank God for modern meds, doctors, friends and family and co-workers who are killing it while we’re out.